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The Serrano Report - Volume XVI, Issue #19

On the 16th Anniversary of September 11, Congressman Serrano released the following statement:

“16 years after the tragic events of September 11, we still remember the sadness and fear that befell our city and country on that heinous day.

“As a native New Yorker, this was a deeply personal and painful day. As we commemorate this anniversary, let us keep in our thoughts and prayers those who lost their lives and their loved ones. Let us also thank the countless first responders and volunteers from all over the country who helped our city in its time of need. And let us also renew our commitment to honor those who lost their lives and to help those who put everything on the line to help by providing them with ongoing assistance and care.

“In the immediate aftermath of September 11, we came together as a nation in the spirit of unity and solidarity. In this era of so much division, we cannot afford to forget that it is in our core values where we find our strength, our unity, and our greatness.”

Congressman Serrano and other members of the Appropriations Committee met with Lin Manuel Miranda last week to discuss arts funding at the federal level for the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) and other important programs.

“It was great to meet with Lin Manuel Miranda on his trip to Capitol Hill to advocate for funding for the arts. He is a great talent and a kind & humble man. His work is an example of why it is so important to invest in arts and culture programs like the National Endowment for the Arts," said Congressman Serrano.

Every year, the gala honors Hispanic's accomplishments in every sphere of public life, from politics to the arts. This year, CHCI awarded Lin Manuel Miranda the Medallion award for his work on Hamilton and his legacy as a pioneer in Latino art.

In the Bronx

Congressman Serrano and Bronx Officials Applaud USPS Move to Cancel Service Cuts in the Bronx

Last week, Congressman Serrano announced that the United States Postal Service (USPS) after pressure from elected Officials, the public, and postal employees had canceled most planned service cuts to the Bronx.

Bronx elected officials, community residents, and Postal employees had expressed serious concerns over the proposed staffing cuts at Post Offices in the Bronx, especially in stations where a recent United States Postal Service (USPS) Inspector General audit found serious deficiencies.

The cuts would have reduced staffing at post offices across the borough, and would have degraded service quality at a number of locations. Congressman Serrano applauded the decision by the United States Postal Service.

Late last year, a report by the U.S. Postal Service Inspector General found that several post offices in the Bronx had serious service issues, including: long wait times of up to an hour, inefficient package pick-up and retail operation, and understaffing. The USPS was supposed to address the problems immediately following the audit but to this date, little appears to have been done to this effect. Further service cuts would have exacerbated these problems.

“The cancellation of planned staffing cuts is a victory for The Bronx,” said Congressman Serrano. “The Postal Service’s plans would have gutted services by removing more than 120 jobs from post offices across the borough, which would have made lines longer and increased frustration for many Bronxites who depend upon reliable post offices. I want to thank advocates, elected officials, postal employees and others for joining me in expressing dismay over these planned service cuts. Thanks to this pressure, we have been able to do what many other areas of the City and nation have not- turn back these terrible plans. The Post Office is experiencing revenue issues, but the way fix those problems is not by reducing the very services that loyal clients depend upon.” Said Congressman Serrano

“The members of the New York Metro Area Postal Union are proud to stand with Congressman Serrano and the Bronx community in the fight for the people of the Bronx to receive first class postal services,” said New York Metro Area Postal Union President Jonathan Smith.